Methods of Forming Jaw Members of End Effectors

ABSTRACT

A method of forming a jaw member of an end effector includes providing a metal support base; engaging a plurality of ceramic stops to the metal support base; and coupling an insulative plate and a sealing plate to the metal support base by aligning the plurality of ceramic stops through a plurality of openings defined in the insulative plate and a plurality of openings defined in the sealing plate.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/051,504, filed on Sep. 17, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to methods of forming components of surgical instruments and, more particularly, to methods of forming jaw members having ceramic rods that act as a guide during assembly of the jaw members, control a gap distance between the jaw members, and provide electrical insulation between the jaw members.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Electrosurgical instruments, e.g., electrosurgical forceps, utilize both mechanical clamping action and electrical energy to effect hemostasis by heating tissue to coagulate and/or cauterize tissue. Certain surgical procedures require more than simply cauterizing tissue and rely on the unique combination of clamping pressure, precise electrosurgical energy control, and gap distance (i.e., distance between opposing jaw members when closed about tissue) to “seal” tissue.

One method of controlling the gap distance uses one or more ceramic dots or stop members on one or both jaw members. The stop members are typically deposited atop components of one or more jaw members, e.g., vapor deposited onto sealing plates. The stop members project from the tissue engaging surface of one or both jaw members and control the separation distance between opposing jaw members when closed about tissue. Since the stop members are typically made from ceramic, the stop members are stable at elevated temperatures and usually exhibit low thermal and electrical conductivities. In addition, ceramic materials have high melting points and are resistant to oxidation, corrosion, or other forms of degradation to which metals are usually more prone. However, stop members are usually applied to the sealing plate using a process involving very high temperatures, which limit the material that may be used for the sealing plates.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of forming a jaw member of an end effector is provided. The method includes providing a metal support base, an insulative plate having a plurality of openings defined therethrough, and a sealing plate having a plurality of openings defined therethrough. A plurality of ceramic stops having a predetermined length are engaged to the metal support base. The insulative plate and the sealing plate are coupled to the metal support base by aligning the plurality of ceramic stops through the plurality of openings defined in the insulative plate and the plurality of openings defined in the sealing plate such that a second end of each ceramic stop projects a predetermined distance relative to a tissue-engaging surface of the sealing plate.

In some embodiments, the method may further include overmolding an insulative housing around the metal support base.

In some embodiments, the insulative plate may be formed by injection molding.

In some embodiments, each of the plurality of ceramic stops may have a cylindrical configuration. Each of the plurality of ceramic stops may define a longitudinal axis therealong and the tissue-engaging surface of each of the plurality of ceramic stops may define a plane in perpendicular relation to each respective longitudinal axis.

In some embodiments, the insulative plate may be fabricated from plastic.

In some embodiments, the method may further include forming a longitudinal knife slot through each of the insulative plate and the sealing plate and aligning the slots in registration with one another. The plurality of openings of the insulative plate and the plurality of openings of the sealing plate may be formed adjacent each respective longitudinal knife slot.

In some embodiments, upon coupling the insulative plate and the sealing plate to the metal support base the plurality of ceramic stops may project from the sealing plate about 0.001 inches to about 0.006 inches.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, another method of forming a jaw member of an end effector is provided. The method includes providing a metal support base, an insulative plate having a plurality of openings defined therethrough, and a sealing plate having a plurality of openings defined therethrough. The insulative plate and the sealing plate are coupled to the metal support base. A plurality of ceramic stops are guided through the plurality of openings defined in the insulative plate and the plurality of openings defined in the sealing plate and into engagement with the metal support base such that a second end of each ceramic stop projects a predetermined distance relative to a tissue-engaging surface of the sealing plate.

In some embodiments, the method may further include overmolding an insulative housing around the metal support base. The plurality of ceramic stops may be placed into engagement with the metal support base concurrently with overmolding the insulative housing around the metal support base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscopic surgical instrument configured for use in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front, perspective view of an end effector of the surgical instrument shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, perspective view of a jaw member of the end effector shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is an exploded view of the jaw member shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 4B is an exploded view of another jaw member of the end effector shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the presently disclosed electrosurgical instrument are described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. As used herein, the term “distal” refers to that portion of the surgical instrument or component thereof, farther from the user, while the term “proximal” refers to that portion of the surgical instrument, or component thereof, closer to the user.

With reference to FIG. 1, a surgical instrument, such as, for example, an endoscopic forceps 10 is provided. For the purposes herein, either an endoscopic instrument or an open instrument (not explicitly shown) may be utilized in accordance with the present disclosure. Forceps 10 includes a pair of jaw members 110, 210 each having a plurality of stop members, such as, for example, ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g (FIGS. 4A and 4B) connected directly to metal support bases 120, 220 of respective jaw members 110, 210. Ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g (FIGS. 4A and 4B) being directly connected to metal support bases 120, 220 of respective jaw members 110, 210 assist in the assembly of jaw members 110, 210 and provide a separation or gap distance between jaw members 110, 210 when approximated, as described in greater detail below.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, forceps 10 defines a longitudinal axis “X-X” and includes a housing 20, a handle assembly 30, a rotating assembly 40, a trigger assembly 50, a switch 60, a shaft 70 extending distally from housing 20, and an end effector assembly 100. Shaft 70 has a proximal end 72 that mechanically engages housing 20 and a distal end 74 configured to mechanically engage end effector assembly 100. Housing 20 contains the internal working components of forceps 10. Reference may be made to commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,846, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein, for a detailed description of the internal working components of housing 20.

End effector assembly 100 includes the pair of opposing jaw members 110 and 210 coupled to distal end 74 of shaft 70. Jaw members 110, 210 are moveable between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. End effector assembly 100 is designed as a unilateral assembly, e.g., jaw member 210 is fixed relative to shaft 70 and jaw member 110 is moveable about a pivot 103 relative to shaft 70 and fixed jaw member 210. In some embodiments, end effector assembly 100 may be configured as a bilateral assembly, e.g., where both jaw member 110 and jaw member 210 are moveable about pivot 103 relative to one another and to shaft 70.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, forceps 10 also includes an electrosurgical cable 80 that connects forceps 10 to a generator (not explicitly shown) or other suitable power source. In some embodiments, forceps 10 may be configured as a battery-powered instrument. Cable 80 includes a wire or wires (not explicitly shown) extending therethrough that has sufficient length to extend through shaft 70 in order to provide electrical energy to at least one of jaw members 110 and 210 of end effector assembly 100. Trigger 52 of trigger assembly 50 may be selectively depressed to advance a knife (not explicitly shown) between jaw members 110, 210 to cut tissue grasped therebetween. Switch 60 is selectively activated to supply electrosurgical energy to jaw members 110, 210.

Handle assembly 30 includes a fixed handle 32 and a moveable handle 34. Fixed handle 32 is integrally associated with housing 20 and moveable handle 34 is moveable relative to fixed handle 32. Rotating assembly 40 is rotatable in either direction about longitudinal axis “X-X” to rotate end effector 100 about longitudinal axis “X-X.” Moveable handle 34 of handle assembly 30 is coupled to a drive assembly (not explicitly shown) that, together, mechanically cooperate to impart movement of jaw members 110 and 210 between the spaced-apart position and the approximated position to grasp tissue disposed between jaw members 110, 210. Moveable handle 34 is biased from fixed handle 32 and, correspondingly, jaw members 110, 210 are in the spaced-apart position. Moveable handle 34 is compressible from a spaced-apart position to a compressed position corresponding to the approximated position of jaw members 110, 210.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4A, and 4B, jaw members 110, 210 each include an insulative housing 102, 202, metal support base 120, 220, an insulative plate 130, 230, and a sealing plate 140, 240, respectively. As jaw members 110, 210 clamp together around tissue, stop members 122 a-g, 222 a-g maintain a gap distance between jaw members 110, 210. In some embodiments, the gap distance may be about 0.001 inches to about 0.006 inches.

With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, metal support bases 120, 220 include proximally extending flanges 124, 224, respectively. Flanges 124, 224 each include an elongated angled cam slot 126, 226 defined therethrough configured to engage an actuator rod (not explicitly shown) that drives the opening and closing of the jaw members 110, 210 as the actuator rod moves through cam slots 126, 226. Metal support bases 120, 220 are configured to support insulative plates 130, 230, respectively, which, in turn, support electrically conductive sealing plates 140, 240 thereon.

Metal support bases 120, 220 further include respective tissue-oriented surfaces 128, 228. Tissue-oriented surfaces 128, 228 have the plurality of ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g, respectively, extending perpendicularly therefrom. Ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g have electrically insulative properties and are configured to electrically insulate jaw members 110, 210 when no tissue is disposed therebetween, act as an isolating spacer between jaw members 110, 210 to prevent tissue from being over-compressed, assist the user in gripping tissue during grasping, and assist in the assembly of jaw members 110, 210 by acting as guide-posts along which insulative plates 130, 230 and sealing plates 140, 240 may be guided into engagement with metal support bases 120, 220, as described in greater detail below.

Ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g are relatively small in size to reduce the effect of ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g on tissue sealing performance. For example, ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g may range from about 0.020 inches to about 0.050 inches in diameter. However, the size of ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g can vary based on the size of jaw members 110, 210. In the illustrated embodiment, each ceramic stop 122 a-g, 222 a-g is generally cylindrical and has a first end 123 a-g, 223 a-g and a second end 127 a-g, 227 a-g. Each ceramic stop 122 a-g, 222 a-g defines a longitudinal axis therethrough, e.g., axis “Y-Y” of ceramic stop 122 a. First ends, e.g., end 123 a, 223 a of each respective ceramic stop 122 a, 222 a are directly connected to tissue-oriented surfaces 128, 228 of jaw members 110, 210. First ends 123 a, 223 a of each ceramic stop 122 a-g, 222 a-g may be monolithically formed with, integrally connected to, or fastened to respective tissue-oriented surfaces 128, 228 of jaw members 110, 210 via various fastening engagements, such as, for example, adhesives, ultrasonic welding, snap-fit engagement, etc.

Second ends, e.g., second ends 127 a, 227 a of each respective ceramic stop 122 a-g, 222 a-g includes a planar tissue-contacting or tissue-engaging surface 125 a (FIG. 3) that defines a plane substantially parallel with tissue-oriented surfaces 128, 228 of respective jaw members 110, 210. The plane of each planar tissue-contacting surface 125 a (FIG. 3) is in perpendicular relation to each respective longitudinal axis “Y-Y” of each ceramic stop 122 a-g, 222 a-g. Each planar tissue-contacting surface, e.g., surface 125 a (FIG. 3) of respective ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g has a pointed/squared circumferential edge 137 (FIG. 3) designed to improve grasping and holding of slippery tissue between jaw members 110, 210. Connecting ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g directly to metal support bases 120, 220 more closely controls the height of the ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g relative to the components that drive the actuation of jaw members 110, 210, namely, the jaw pivot 103 and cam slots 126, 226 of metal support bases 120, 220.

With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, insulative plates 130, 230 and sealing plates 140, 240 each include a plurality of openings 132 a-g, 232 a-g, 142 a-g, 242 a-g, respectively, defined therethrough. Openings 132 a-g, 232 a-g of insulative plates 130, 230 and openings 142 a-g, 242 a-g of sealing plates 140, 240 are coaxially aligned with one another upon assembly thereof to respective metal support bases 120, 220. The electrically conductive sealing plates 140, 240 and the insulative plates 130, 230 include respective longitudinally-oriented knife slots 139, 239, 149, 249 defined therethrough for reciprocation of a knife blade (not explicitly shown). Openings 132 a-g, 232 a-g, 142 a-g, 242 a-g of insulative plates 130, 230 and respective sealing plates 140, 240 are disposed adjacent longitudinal knife slots 139, 239, 149, 249. Openings 132 a-g, 232 a-g, 142 a-g, 242 a-g are configured for receipt of respective ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g. Upon assembly of jaw members 110, 210, ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g protrude a distance from sealing plates 140, 240 to prevent sealing plates 140, 240 from touching and creating a short between sealing plates 140, 240. Upon assembly of jaw members 110, 210, ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g are adjacent blade slots 139, 239, 149, 249 to help grip tissue closer to where a division of the gripped tissue takes place, thus producing a more reliable cut.

In some embodiments, sealing plates 140, 240 may be affixed atop the insulative plates 130, 230, respectively, and metal support bases 120, 220, respectively, in any suitable manner, including snap-fit, over-molding, stamping, ultrasonic welding, etc. Metal support bases 120, 220, insulative plates 130, 230, and sealing plates 140, 240 are encapsulated by the outer insulative housings 102, 202 by way of an overmolding process. Insulative housings 102, 202 may be fabricated from various types of plastic materials, such as, for example, Amodel®, Trogamid®, PEKK, G-PEAK, PEEK, Thermotuff™, Ultem®, etc., all of which may be mineral and/or fiber reinforced.

During assembly, to form jaw member 110, metal support base 120 is formed and ceramic stops 122 a-g are cut to a selected length. Insulative plate 130 is formed by injection molding and includes a longitudinal knife slot 139 formed therein. Sealing plate 140 is formed from a conductive material and has a longitudinal knife slot 149 formed therein. Openings 132 a-g are formed in insulative plate 130 and openings 142 a-g are formed in sealing plate 140 adjacent respective longitudinal knife slots 139, 149. Ceramic stops 122 a-g are engaged to tissue-oriented surface 128 (i.e., directly connected to tissue-oriented surface 128) of metal support base 120 such that ceramic stops 122 a-g extend substantially perpendicular from tissue-oriented surface 128. Insulative plate 130 is coupled to metal support base 120 by guiding and aligning insulative plate 130 along ceramic stops 122 a-g until insulative plate 130 is in abutment with tissue-oriented surface 128 of metal support base 120. Sealing plate 140 is guided and aligned along ceramic stops 122 a-g toward metal support base 120 until sealing plate 140 is in abutment with insulative plate 130 and second ends 127 a-g of ceramic stops 122 a-g protrude from sealing plate 140. Insulative housing 102 is overmolded around metal support base 120 to secure the components of jaw member 110 together. Jaw member 210 may be formed in a similar manner as jaw member 110, described above.

This process avoids using high temperatures traditionally used to connect ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g to a sealing plate 140, 240 of a jaw member 110, 210. Such high temperatures limit the materials that may be used for fabricating sealing plates 140, 240. Accordingly, the process of forming the jaw members 110, 210 disclosed herein allows for sealing plates 140, 240 to be constructed from alternative materials that would not be able to withstand high manufacturing temperatures normally utilized during the application of ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g to the sealing plates 140, 240. For example, the presently disclosed embodiments permit sealing plates 140, 240 to be constructed from a printed circuit board, which may provide additional benefits for surgical applications.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, another process for assembling jaw members 110, 210 is provided. Instead of connecting ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g directly to metal support bases 120, 220 prior to coupling insulative plates 130, 230 and sealing plates 140 240 to metal support bases 120, 220, respectively, insulative plates 130, 230 and sealing plates 140, 240 are mounted to metal support bases 120, 220 prior to engaging ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g to metal support bases 120, 220. In particular, after insulative plates 130, 230 and sealing plates 140, 240 are mounted to metal support bases 120, 220, respectively, ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g are guided through respective openings 132 a-g, 232 a-g, 142 a-g, 242 a-g in insulative plates 130, 230 and sealing plates 140, 240 into engagement with the metal support bases 120, 220. In this way, ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g may be supported on metal support bases 120, 220 by being secured in openings 132 a-g, 232 a-g, 142 a-g, 242 a-g of insulative plates 130, 230 and sealing plates 140, 240. Ceramic stops 122 a-g, 222 a-g may be held in engagement with metal support bases 120, 220 via a friction-fit connection within openings 132 a-g, 232 a-g, 142 a-g, 242 a-g of insulative plates 130, 230 and/or sealing plates 140, 240. Similar to the method of assembling jaw members 110, 210 described above, this process avoids using high temperatures traditionally used to connect ceramic stops to a sealing plate of a jaw member.

Any of the components described herein may be fabricated from either metals, plastics, resins, composites or the like taking into consideration strength, durability, wearability, weight, resistance to corrosion, ease of manufacturing, cost of manufacturing, and the like.

The various embodiments disclosed herein may also be configured to work with robotic surgical systems and what is commonly referred to as “Telesurgery.” Such systems employ various robotic elements to assist the surgeon and allow remote operation (or partial remote operation) of surgical instrumentation. Various robotic arms, gears, cams, pulleys, electric and mechanical motors, etc. may be employed for this purpose and may be designed with a robotic surgical system to assist the surgeon during the course of an operation or treatment. Such robotic systems may include remotely steerable systems, automatically flexible surgical systems, remotely flexible surgical systems, remotely articulating surgical systems, wireless surgical systems, modular or selectively configurable remotely operated surgical systems, etc.

The robotic surgical systems may be employed with one or more consoles that are next to an operating theater or located in a remote location. In this instance, one team of surgeons or nurses may prep the patient for surgery and configure the robotic surgical system with one or more of the instruments disclosed herein while another surgeon (or group of surgeons) remotely control the instruments via the robotic surgical system. As can be appreciated, a highly skilled surgeon may perform multiple operations in multiple locations without leaving his/her remote console which can be both economically advantageous and a benefit to the patient or a series of patients.

The robotic arms of the surgical system are typically coupled to a pair of master handles by a controller. The handles can be moved by the surgeon to produce a corresponding movement of the working ends of any type of surgical instrument (e.g., end effectors, graspers, knifes, scissors, etc.) which may complement the use of one or more of the embodiments described herein. The movement of the master handles may be scaled so that the working ends have a corresponding movement that is different, smaller or larger, than the movement performed by the operating hands of the surgeon. The scale factor or gearing ratio may be adjustable so that the operator can control the resolution of the working ends of the surgical instrument(s).

The master handles may include various sensors to provide feedback to the surgeon relating to various tissue parameters or conditions, e.g., tissue resistance due to manipulation, cutting or otherwise treating, pressure by the instrument onto the tissue, tissue temperature, tissue impedance, etc. As can be appreciated, such sensors provide the surgeon with enhanced tactile feedback simulating actual operating conditions. The master handles may also include a variety of different actuators for delicate tissue manipulation or treatment further enhancing the surgeon's ability to mimic actual operating conditions.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments of the presently disclosed jaw members and methods of forming said jaw members. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of forming a jaw member of an end effector, comprising; providing a metal support base, an insulative plate having a plurality of openings defined therethrough, and a sealing plate having a plurality of openings defined therethrough; engaging a plurality of ceramic stops to the metal support base, the ceramic stops having a predetermined length; and coupling the insulative plate and the sealing plate to the metal support base by aligning the plurality of ceramic stops through the plurality of openings defined in the insulative plate and the plurality of openings defined in the sealing plate such that a second end of each ceramic stop projects a predetermined distance relative to a tissue-engaging surface of the sealing plate.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising overmolding an insulative housing around the metal support base.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the insulative plate is formed by injection molding.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of ceramic stops has a cylindrical configuration.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of ceramic stops defines a longitudinal axis therealong and tissue-engaging surface of each of the plurality of ceramic stops defines a plane in perpendicular relation to each respective longitudinal axis.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the insulative plate is fabricated from plastic.
 7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming a longitudinal knife slot through each of the insulative plate and the sealing plate and aligning the slots in registration with one another.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of openings of the insulative plate and the plurality of openings of the sealing plate are formed adjacent each respective longitudinal knife slot.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is about 0.001 inches to about 0.006 inches.
 10. A method of forming a jaw member of an end effector, comprising; providing a metal support base, an insulative plate having a plurality of openings defined therethrough, and a sealing plate having a plurality of openings defined therethrough; coupling the insulative plate and the sealing plate to the metal support base; and guiding a plurality of ceramic stops through the plurality of openings defined in the insulative plate and the plurality of openings defined in the sealing plate and into engagement with the metal support base such that a second end of each ceramic stop projects a predetermined distance relative to a tissue-engaging surface of the sealing plate.
 11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising overmolding an insulative housing around the metal support base.
 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of ceramic stops is placed into engagement with the metal support base concurrently with overmolding the insulative housing around the metal support base.
 13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the insulative plate is formed by injection molding.
 14. The method according to claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of ceramic stops has a cylindrical configuration.
 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of ceramic stops defines a longitudinal axis therealong and a tissue-engaging surface of each of the plurality of ceramic stops defines a plane in perpendicular relation to each respective longitudinal axis.
 16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the insulative plate is fabricated from plastic.
 17. The method according to claim 10, further comprising forming a longitudinal knife slot through each of the insulative plate and the sealing plate and aligning the slots in registration with one another.
 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of openings of the insulative plate and the plurality of openings of the sealing plate are formed adjacent each respective longitudinal knife slot.
 19. The method according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined distance is about 0.001 inches to about 0.006 inches. 